Premier Lin Chuan, concerned about traffic safety and the rights and interests of domestic drivers and tourists, urged the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) and Ministry of Labor (MOL) to work together to step up labor inspections, set up a mechanism to prevent excessive workloads, and compel travel-related businesses to abide by labor laws and regulations.
Speaking at today's Cabinet meeting following briefings by the MOTC and MOL in the aftermath of the major traffic accident on National Freeway No. 5 that left 33 dead and 11 seriously injured, the premier also said that this unfortunate incident has exposed structural problems in the domestic tourism industry and tour bus management structure.
The government must reflect on this heartbreaking tragedy and do everything possible to prevent a recurrence, the premier said. In addition to ensuring the structural safety of vehicles, improving inspection standards and setting up an effective roadside inspection mechanism, he said the competent authorities should eliminate unscrupulous bus operators and high-risk tourism products to create a sound safety management system. He also requested that the MOTC quickly implement all of the suggestions broached in its briefing to enhance the quality and safety of the nation's tourism products.
With several multiple-day public holidays coming up, the MOTC said it will take action to boost confidence in domestic tourism including inspecting tourism products more rigorously, recommending quality service providers, cracking down on poor service, prohibiting the use of old tour buses for certain itineraries, recalling old buses for thorough inspections, and checking on high-risk drivers.
To tighten regulations over tour bus safety, the MOTC said its management efforts will start at the source by speeding up the elimination of substandard bus companies and high-risk tourism products, cooperating with the MOL to continue inspections and work out improvement measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The MOTC also requested that the public support its efforts to re-evaluate the current system wherein independent tour buses register under bus companies, and implement stricter requirements to eliminate unqualified service providers. Pledging to continue to research and draft complementary measures, including providing bus drivers with re-employment counseling to reduce any negative impacts, the MOTC said it will work to gradually rectify the shortcomings in the domestic tour bus market.